Urban Construction Update - July 2017

Major construction projects have returned to the landscape of Jacksonville's urban core. Find out where (and more) as Modern Cities takes a brief look at the status of various developments under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of July 2017.

Rooms will be renovated in phases with new carpeting, windows, balconies, doors and furnishings as well as redesigned bathrooms.

The hotel will remain open during the project.

The work will include an exterior re-facing, roof replacement, new windows, a renovated porte cochere in the front, the addition of a porte cochere at the entrance of the convention center in the back along Prudential Drive, a remodeled pool area, and a redesigned fifth-floor terrace.

In the ground-floor public areas, the lobby, lounge and restaurant will see significant upgrades. Carpeting will be replaced by hard flooring and new furnishings will be added throughout, in addition to the drop ceilings.

The lobby will be redesigned and moved closer to the front, opening up a sight-line to the pool area. It also will have a coffee bar and an art wall and water feature that will front most of the elevators, which now are exposed.

The expanded lobby lounge will be rebuilt with a loggia so that part of the seating area will be outside under cover.

The fitness center will be renovated and the ground-floor restaurant will be renovated with a covered outdoor seating area.

Construction is underway on a $128 million expansion of the Fuller Warren Bridge and I-95/I-10 interchange. The project, which is expected to be completed in summer 2020, will include the addition of a 12-foot shared use path over the St. Johns River, connecting San Marco and Riverside.

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Operational improvements and enhancements will be made to the interchange at Interstate 95 and Interstate 10, the Fuller Warren Bridge, and along the east side of U.S.17 north bound between McDuff Avenue and Rosselle Street.

Operational improvements include:

Interstate 95 (Fuller Warren Bridge) improvements:

Widening of the Fuller Warren Bridge expanding northbound and southbound lanes from three lanes to four lanes.Adding a Shared Use Path (SUP) on the Fuller Warren Bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists connecting San Marco and Riverside neighborhoods.Interstate 10 Improvements:

First Watch, the “daytime” café, is in the process of expanding with a new location in Brooklyn Station. The breakfast-brunch-and-lunch restaurant will take over the more than 4,000-square-foot free-standing building that formerly housed the Corner Bakery Café at 192 Riverside Avenue.

Construction on the first phase of the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC) continues at West Forsyth and Stuart Streets. When complete, the footprint of the $8 million Intercity Bus Terminal will resemble recently built Greyhound stations in Nashville, Baltimore and Sacramento. Those 10,000 square foot facilities include multiple bus bays, a full-service restaurant, ticket counter and automated ticket machines.

Plans also call for wider sidewalks in the vicinity to encourage more pedestrian activity. Construction on phase one of the JRTC is expected to last 12 months. A ground breaking for the second phase was held on June 20, 2017. Anticipated for completion in September 2019, that phase will include a terminal for local fixed bus routes, a First Coast Flyer Bus Rapid Transit hub, Skyway station and administrative offices.

5. Le Parisien

NAI Hallmart Partners recently leased ground level retail space in EverBank Plaza to Le Parisien. The French bistro plans to open its doors in fall 2017.

Work continues on the City of Jacksonville's $31 million project to reconstruct the Coastline Drive Bridge, Liberty Street Brige and remove the courthouse parking lot over the St. Johns River. In addition, a new Northbank Riverwalk will be constructed along Coastline Drive, Market Street, Courthouse Drive and Liberty Street. Currently, Coastline Drive and the riverwalk in front of the Hyatt are being redeveloped.

Construction continues on Vestcor Companies Lofts of Lavilla. The $22-million, 5-story affordable housing project will contain 130 apartment units adjacent to the Skyway at Lee and Bay Streets. Supported by a $270,000 loan from the Downtown Economic Development Fund and $270,000 from the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority, the project is anticipated for completion by the end of 2017.

Ron Chamblin, owner of the city's largest independent bookstore, is in the process of restoring a three story building at 225 North Laura Street. When complete, the 100-year-old building will include six apartments above street level retail.

The restoration of the historic Bostwick Building continues to make progress. Forking Amazing Restaurants intends to convert the structure into an upscale steakhouse restaurant called the Cowford Chophouse. When complete in 2017, the two floor dining establishment will feature a rooftop lounge with spectacular views of the city.

10. Elena Flats

Jack Meeks and his wife, JoAnn Tredennick, continue on the extensive renovation of the Elena Flats building at 122 E. Duval St. Plans are to convert the former rooming house into four market-rate apartment units.

11. Broadstone River House Apartments

Vertical construction continues on the Alliance Residential Company's Broadstone River House Apartments project on the Southbank. The 265-unit multifamily project will replace a 3.7-acre surface parking lot adjacent to the Duval County School Board building.